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James Brown, born in 1933 in South Carolina, came from an extremely difficult and tragic childhood. From those circumstances, with his gift of music, starting out as part of a gospel group, he rose to become one of the most…
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“Llanero, si soy llanero”: music from the plains of Colombia
“Colombia is unknown territory, a land of myths, beautiful rainforests, mountains and beaches , lovely cities, and enchanting and happy people. Colombia is one of the world’s most exotic, sensual, wild, complex and fascinating countries.” ~From the website Ballet Folkloric…
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Cowboy yodels & música ranchera: from Gene Autry to Javier Solis
My Grandpa George was a native of a tiny town in the American Southwest ~ Guadalupe, New Mexico. Proud Mexican-Americans, they rode horses, manned ranches and herded cattle. His aunt Juanita was the wife of the famous old west sheriff,…
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Somalia: K’Naan, Magool, & the meanest streets in the universe
“The people of Somalia just do not have a voice….They are to me the most forgotten people in the world.” ~ K’Naan In ancient times Somalia was a land of riches, the main suppliers of frankincense, myrrh and spices, highly…
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Louisiana gumbo: Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole
“Louisiana, Louisiana; It’s beauty’s always aglow. Moss covered shade trees; Sway in the cool breeze While lazy bayous flow.” ~ Louisiana state song Cedric Watson Bon jour/Bon soir! Since the Saints won the Superbowl and Mardi Gras is around the…
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To Haiti With Love: Racine, Kompa, Twoubadou, & Jazz
My heart, like yours, broke seeing the tragic images and trying to comprehend the magnitude of the loss and suffering of the Haitian Earthquake of 2010 (see links below for how to help). Aside from the troubled history that keeps…
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Goodbye Lhasa: this space had become too small
I was so sad to find out that singer/artist Lhasa de Sela passed away on January 1, 2010 at the young age of 37 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. I first fell in love with her when I…
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I Live for the Funk: James Brown, The Meters, & Curtis Mayfield
James Brown, born in 1933 in South Carolina, came from an extremely difficult and tragic childhood. From those circumstances, with his gift of music, starting out as part of a gospel group, he rose to become one of the most influential musicians in the world. With his band the JBs, some of the most highly…
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“Llanero, si soy llanero”: music from the plains of Colombia
“Colombia is unknown territory, a land of myths, beautiful rainforests, mountains and beaches , lovely cities, and enchanting and happy people. Colombia is one of the world’s most exotic, sensual, wild, complex and fascinating countries.” ~From the website Ballet Folkloric Juvenil Colombiano When living in Washington DC a few years ago, I attended Smithsonian Folklife…
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Cowboy yodels & música ranchera: from Gene Autry to Javier Solis
My Grandpa George was a native of a tiny town in the American Southwest ~ Guadalupe, New Mexico. Proud Mexican-Americans, they rode horses, manned ranches and herded cattle. His aunt Juanita was the wife of the famous old west sheriff, Pat Garrett. I’ve written about my Honduran father’s side of the family in the post,…
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Somalia: K’Naan, Magool, & the meanest streets in the universe
“The people of Somalia just do not have a voice….They are to me the most forgotten people in the world.” ~ K’Naan In ancient times Somalia was a land of riches, the main suppliers of frankincense, myrrh and spices, highly valuable trade in those days. Today Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the…
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Louisiana gumbo: Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole
“Louisiana, Louisiana; It’s beauty’s always aglow. Moss covered shade trees; Sway in the cool breeze While lazy bayous flow.” ~ Louisiana state song Cedric Watson Bon jour/Bon soir! Since the Saints won the Superbowl and Mardi Gras is around the corner, I thought I’d throw some musical gumbo in the mix! Music Voyager, a new…
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To Haiti With Love: Racine, Kompa, Twoubadou, & Jazz
My heart, like yours, broke seeing the tragic images and trying to comprehend the magnitude of the loss and suffering of the Haitian Earthquake of 2010 (see links below for how to help). Aside from the troubled history that keeps being repeated in the media, there is a richness and strength of culture and spirit…
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Goodbye Lhasa: this space had become too small
I was so sad to find out that singer/artist Lhasa de Sela passed away on January 1, 2010 at the young age of 37 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. I first fell in love with her when I heard her song, “De Cara A La Pared”. I listened to that song on repeat…
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